Improvement in wick-trimmers for lamps



E. c; JENKINS, Jr.

Wick Trimmer. 7

- Patented Dec. 14, I869.

delineate herein an entire lamp-burner.

In'carrying out my present invention, in one formdlniieli $mtw mm M ep c.

c. JENKINS, JR, or woncnsrnn, MASSACHUSETTS.

' IMPROVEMENT IN WICK-TRIMMERS FOR LAMPS. I

The Schedule referred to in these Iletters Patent and making part of the samev To all to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, E.- O.JENKINS, Jr., of the city and countyof Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have made an invention of a new and useful Improvement in Lamp-Burnersjand do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description thereof, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the wick-tube and screw-capof alamp-burner to which my invention is applied.

Figure 2, a representation of a modification of my invention. I

The invention comprising the subject-matter of this patent relates to means for cutting oil the charred portions of a lamp w ick, such as is used in kerosenelamps, the cutting-device, as embraced in my invention, being applied to or making part of a sleeve fitting the wick-tube of the lamp-burner.

In the drawings, to which allusion has before been made as accompanying this specification, and which illustrate my invention,

(t denotes a screw-cap, snch as is ordinarily employed forfilling the orifice-of a kerosene-lamp, the wick-tube of such lamp being shown at b as combined with the cap, in the common manner of such articles.

As my present invention is applied directly to the wick-tube, and bears no relation to the other portions ofa lamp, I have not considered it necessary to of its manifest variety of adaptations, I employ ashort sleeve, (1, to encompass and slide easily upon the wick-tubes, while to opposite sides of this sleeve, I afiix two spring metallic plates, 0 c, the upper. ends of each of these plates being given a lateral bend, in order to produce a horizontal lip, f.

The edges of the lip are to be in horizontal alignment, and are to be sharp, in order to cut through alamp-wick.

The operation of the ahove-described device will be apparent at a glance.

To cut the wick, it should be elevated into such a position, with respect to the cutters, that the cliarred portions of such wick, which is easily cut, shall be above such cutters.

Upon pressing the two cutterstogether with the thumb and finger, and causing their cutting-edges to meet, the charred portions of the wick will be severed therefrom evenly with the top of the wick-tube, thereby insuring an even blaze, the portions thus cut-oil being removed with the dther hand before releasing the pressure upon the cutters.

This release of pressure upon the-cutters allows them to return to their normal position, and out of path of movement of the wick.

Various modifications of the principal feature of my invention may be adopted without affecting its character, the main condition of which consists in. the application, to a lamp-burner, of a pair of cutting-plates so arranged as to sever the wick.

Fig. 2, of the accompanying drawings, gives a representation of a modification of my invention.

In this case, I employ two narrow metallic plates or strips, j in, of equals'ize and form, each being given a lateral and right-angular bend to lap across each side of the sleeve, shown at (1, before mentioned, the plates being pivoted at their bends together at both sides of the sleeve, as shown at b, in such mannert-hat upon contracting their pendulons diverging handles,

m at, their sharp edges shall be brought together and meet, with the same effect as in the-first-mentioncd instance.

The handles in m are to be forced asunder by a double spring suitably applied.

The convenience and practical utility of my invention will readily recommend it to housekeepers, to Whom it will be especially valuable.

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. The com bination, with the wick-tube of .a lampburner, of a wiclocuttlng device composed of two outting-plates or blades atfixed to or forming part of a sleeve fitting the wicktnbe,-and capable of being moved up or down thereon, so as to bring the blades up' inposition to cut the wick, or to lower them out of the way.

2. A'wick-cutting device, composed of the sleeve d, spring-plates e, and blades f, the whole constructed and operating as described.

E. c. JENKINS, JR.

Witnesses EDWARD GRIFFITH, Faun. CURTIS. 

